One morning, after two weeks of using Pastor Ngubo’s water and oil, Fezile feels nauseous. Feeling she is about to vomit on the floor tiles in the kitchen she runs to the bathroom, but nothing comes out.

“This could be it, Lindani,” she says when she comes out of the bathroom. “I also felt like vomiting yesterday morning!”

They look at each other and smile as Lindani drives her to the pharmacy. They are so excited that they hardly speak. Fezile buys three different types of pregnancy tests because she wants to be absolutely certain of the result. They hurry back home.

“You are pregnant. I can just feel it,” says Lindani.

“I also think so. I felt nauseous even yesterday.”

“I just know it’s going to be a boy,” says Lindani.

“How do you know that? It might be a girl. I can just see myself wearing matching outfits with my baby!”

Lindani kneels down. His kisses Fezile’s stomach and says, “Hello Ndalo, my son. We promise to take good care of you, me and your mom. Now stop making your mother feel sick. Just calm down because you know how moody she gets when she is sick.”

“Oh my God, Lindani! Let’s wait for the pregnancy test result first before we jump to conclusions.”

Fezile says a little prayer when she enters the bathroom.

“God please give me a child. Please give me the happiness of holding on to my own flesh and blood, like other women.”

She opens her eyes and takes a deep breath. She squints and looks closer. Not pregnant is the result.

She frantically tries the other pregnancy tests but they all come back with the same results. Fezile is not pregnant.

She comes out of the bathroom slowly. Lindani sees the dejection in her eyes and understands that she is not pregnant. Fezile weeps, and Lindani cuddles his wife.

“It just means it’s not time yet, my love. Please don’t cry,” Lindani comforts Fezile.

“I want to be a mother. That’s all I’m asking for in this world, Lindani!”

“I want a child as much as you do. We just have to keep on trying.”

“How much longer must we keep trying? How much longer?!” Fezile screams.

“We will keep on trying until it happens for us. I don’t know when it will happen but we won’t give up.”

“What am I living for? What use is it to live this comfortable life if I don’t have a child? Who will get all these possessions we have when we die, if we don’t have a child?”

“Shhh, Fezile. Please calm down. We will have many children but please just don’t give up on us just yet.”

“It’s hard not to give up, my love. This burden is heavy on my soul now!”

“How about we go out to eat this evening? It will be good to get out of the house.”

“I’d like that,” Fezile says and wipes away her tears.

“I love you, Fezile. Please don’t ever doubt my love for you. No matter what happens I will always love you.” Lindani kisses her forehead.

“I love you too, Lindani. Thank you for speaking these words,” Fezile sniffles.

She feels much better as they sit down to eat at a restaurant at the North Beach promenade in Durban. They take in the sound of waves and the cool summer breeze as they eat.

Fezile is all smiles until a couple, pushing a pram, walks down the promenade.

Soon another couple walks by with their two toddlers. Lindani is still chatting while looking down at his plate. He looks up to see Fezile looking at the passing couple with a sombre look on her face. The couple stops and looks out to sea. Fezile is crying and staring at the couple with their toddlers.

“Fezile,” Lindani whispers.

Fezile doesn’t answer. It’s like her mind is not there.

“My love, stop staring at people like that. They will think you have a problem with them.”

“What wrong did I do in this world? What unforgivable crime have I committed?” Fezile shouts.

“Calm down, my love. People are staring at us,” Lindani whispers.

“I don’t care about people, Lindani. They don’t know what I’m going through!”

“I know that. It is better we leave because I can see you are not in the right state of mind to be around other people.”

“You are ashamed of me? Is that it?”

“No, it’s not like that. I’ll never be ashamed of you.”

“I want a baby, Lindani! That’s all I want!” she weeps.

People in the restaurant are staring at them. Lindani escorts Fezile out.

She cries until the morning. She doesn’t go to work on Monday because she is still not in the right state of mind.

Tell us: Do you sympathise with how very much Fezile is suffering over this issue? Should she try to accept they cannot have a child?